Demand for country homes increased in last year

While areas of the economy have struggled in the past year, associate director of Sherry Fitzgerald Philip Guckian says that the country market has shown resilience during the pandemic.

With a shift in employment trends such as remote working, Philip explains that the property market has seen a significant number of people moving away from cities.

“There has been a clear desire for more space and greenery,” he explains.

“What we are seeing is far more than a COVID-induced fad and instead a real lifestyle movement towards rural living.

“People want more space and more privacy,” he continued.

“Flexibility and lifestyle changes have opened up a lot of doors for people.”

Returning home

He explains that Irish people returning home after the first lockdown was a significant player in the property market in 2020.

“Ex-pats have decided to make the move home to be closer to family,” he said.

“The fear of parents getting older and not being able to freely fly into the country gave a change of mindset and accelerated the move home.”

Competitive bidding

Philip recalls that bidding for country homes was very competitive last year, with many properties exceeding their asking price.

He believes this shift to rural living will continue as people look for a balance of country and city life.

Among properties sold in 2020 were Rushwee House and Farm, Rathcoffey Castle and Farm and Drumman House and Lodge.

Rushwee House and Farm, Slane, Co Meath

Situated on 81ac, the property included a milking parlour, outhouses, feeding and cattle sheds.

The farm was on 61ac, with the residential house on the remainder (20ac).

Located just outside the village of Slane and 48km from Dublin city centre, the property sold by private treaty with the auctioneer mentioning that the surrounding lands were of very high quality, suitable for tillage and grazing.

It was laid out in several paddocks with two access points to the land. The asking price for this property was €1,500,000.

Rathcoffey Castle and Farm, Rathcoffey, Co Kildare

Located 8.5km from Maynooth, Rathcoffey Castle and Farm comprised of 224.5 acres of highly productive agricultural land located to the east of the village of Rathcoffey.

Well-drained and with mature hedging surrounding most of the boundary, the land had two access points and would be suitable for tillage.

The property was sold by private treaty and the asking price was €2,000,000.

Drumman House and Lodge, Duleek, Co Meath

This residential farm is situated on 102ac of fertile grazing lands suitable for livestock, tillage and equine use.

Located approximately 60km from Dublin city centre, the land has mature boundaries and hedging throughout, with three access points.

There were a number of traditional buildings beside the main residence, including a large barn with a concrete floor.

With an asking price of €1,650,000, the property sold by private treaty.

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